Wow! ok thanks everyone for your help on this one! I thought I was the only one who was absolutely crazy. So you've made it with the 18 shells and it still came to a point and everything? Because that's hot, and I can just keep going then

I am working on it right now. I frogged mine twice too. I have 19 shells instead of 20. I just figure that I will work it out somehow in the end. At least 18 is better than 19 because you are still with an even number. After ripping it out twice, I just decided to go with it anyway and see what comes out of it.

It seems like putting five stitches into one chain squished the chain next to it, making it impossible to count that squished one (if that makes sense?). That explains why I lost one stitch for every shell.

I noticed the same thing, luckily before it was too late. Check for smooshed stitches absorbed into the shell center stitch. I only just started the second row, though. (Thanks for pointing out the error in the 3rd!)

It seems like putting five stitches into one chain squished the chain next to it, making it impossible to count that squished one (if that makes sense?). That explains why I lost one stitch for every shell.

Thanks so much for sorting all this out! and reminding us about the errata on row 3. I've just started mine so I hope I get 20 shells looking out for squished chains.